Stateline Victoria

PM knew of Hollingworth rape allegation in December

JEREMY THOMPSON, REPORTER: Outside the gates of Yarralumla, the media watches and waits for a Governor General under siege. Until yesterday the proposition seemed reasonably straightforward. Is a man who allowed a known paedophile to remain in the Anglican ministry fit and proper to be Governor General? Now allegations of rape. Annie Jarmyn, a ward of the state, said she had been repeatedly assaulted from the age of 10 by people who are supposed to care for her. She alleged Dr Hollingworth organised a youth camp near Bendigo in the summer of 1965-66, when she was about 19. In her affidavit, identities are disguised. Dr Hollingworth is known by the initials AB.

PETER HOLLINGWORTH, GOVERNOR GENERAL: I never attended any meeting at St John's Church Hall in North Bendigo. I never organised a youth camp for the diocese of Bendigo. I never attended a youth camp organised by that diocese. I can only assume that the claims against me must have been made as a result of mistaken identity.

PETER HOLLINGWORTH: I did not know this woman. I did not rape her. I did not sexually assault her. I deny absolutely that I have ever raped or in any way sexually assaulted any person.

JEREMY THOMPSON: Annie Jarmyn said the alleged rape just added to her earlier torment.

PETER HOLLINGWORTH: Sexual assault and abuse of any kind is utterly abhorrent to me, and most especially where it is perpetrated against young persons by those in a position of trust.

JEREMY THOMPSON: Anne Jarmyn died, reportedly by her own hand, two weeks ago at the age of 56.

PETER HOLLINGWORTH: I was deeply saddened to learn of the sufferings in this woman's life, and more recently, of her tragic death. I extend my deepest condolences to her family.

JEREMY THOMPSON: Today, in Bendigo itself, defence from the diocese. They have no record of Dr Hollingworth attending any youth camp at that time, although it must be said the written records are sparse.

ARCHDEACON JOHN GELDART, BENDIGO DIOCESE: A small article would have been written. And it would have been included in what we call the Bendigo Church News of those days. Now, we have been back through all of the past editions of the Bendigo Church News to see if that had happened and there's no record of that at all.

JEREMY THOMPSON: And none of Peter Hollingworth?

ARCHDEACON JOHN GELDART: None of Peter Hollingworth, no.

JEREMY THOMPSON: So where does that leave a Governor General who, on top of everything else, is now fighting allegations of rape? Well, in a better position, say some.

PETER BEATTIE, QUEENSLAND PREMIER: But I think the claims and the video statement released by the Governor General will have the effect of, I think, garnishing some public support for him and I think it will make it less likely he will go.

JEREMY THOMPSON: Indeed that seems borne out by callers to ABC Radio in Melbourne today.

ABC RADIO TALKBACK CALLER: The ulterior motive of those attacking him is purely and simply to pull down the person and pull down the Governor Generalship.

SECOND TALKBACK CALLER: And I just feel sorry for the Governor General. I think it's just a shocking indictment of Australian society when they just go off on this shocking gossip trail and witch-hunt trail.

JEREMY THOMPSON: Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who has already suggested the Governor General should consider his position, says the presumption of innocence should apply in this case.

ALEXANDER DOWNER, FOREIGN MINISTER: They're quite separate issues from the issue in relation to the Anglican Church's report into the activities of the Diocese of Brisbane and Archbishop Hollingworth's comments there. I think it's an entirely separate issue, this, and I think it needs to be handled in that light.

JEREMY THOMPSON: And so thinks the PM. His office revealed today they've known about the case for five months, and Mr Howard and Dr Hollingworth have been in regular contact about it, with the Governor General given a chance to clear his name. But the separate matters, those events in Brisbane, still stand, and there are plenty who say they're enough for him to go.

BOB CARR, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES: The only way this is going to be resolved for our nation is by the PM having one of those confidential discussions between a Head of Government and a Head of State, providing advice that results in the Governor General understanding that this is a gesture required.

JEREMY THOMPSON: In the meantime, we watch and wait. The PM returns tomorrow, and sometime later we may well see his limousine pass through these gates. What will be said within is much harder to predict.